Sighting device for rifle grenades and the like



Jan. 24, 1961 E. w. BRANDT 2,968,870

SIGHTING DEVICE FOR RIFLE GRENADES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

United SIGHTING DEVICE FOR RIFLE GRENADES AND THE L Edgar William Brandt, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Anstalt fiir die Entwicklung von Erfinduugen und Gewerblichen Anwendungen Energa, Vaduz, Liechtenstein This invention relates to a sighting device for rifle grenades and the like.

At the present time there are various types of rifle grenades (anti-tank, anti-personnel, smoke grenades, and so on) in which the ballistic characteristics and especially the weight, differ considerably. These grenades are generally fired with the aid of a detachable throwing sleeve provided with an aiming sight which, for the purposes of giving the same a universal character, has been provided with a series of different markings which frequently lead to confusion in reading the sight and increase the risks of error.

Moreover, if the rifle from which the grenade is to be fired is carried without precaution, these sights are liable to get caught and to receive blows, especially during transport, so that their precision may be adversely affected. Finally, the weight of these sights on the end of the barrel tends to increase the lack of balance of the weapon at the moment of firing.

The sighting device arrangement of the present invention aims at obviating these disadvantages.

To this end, the sighting device according to the invention consists of a detachable sight provided with means which are adapted to secure said sight to the projectile before firing and to enable it to be detached therefrom after the shot has been fired, the dimensions of said sighting device being such that it can be housed in the fincarrying tail of the grenade.

In order to enable the invention to be more readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically and by way of example, one embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the tail of a grenade containing a propulsive cartridge and the sighting device;

Figure 2 is a side view of the sighting device fitted on the fin assembly of a grenade; and

Figure 3 is an elevation of the same.

The arrangement illustrated is adapted to enable the rifleman to aim by aligning the target over a straight line tangential to the largest-diameter zone of the body of the grenade and passing through the elevation level corresponding to the distance required. The sighting device comprises a small bar 1, preferably of a transparent synthetic material, having a series of steps or levels 2 cut out from said bar and graduated according to the ranges to be reached. This bar can of course be made of any other suitable material and may have painted or engraved levels.

On its front face the bar 1 is provided with a clip 3 adapted to clip on to the rear part of one of the fins 4 of a fin assembly made of synthetic resin and disposed at the end of the tail 5 of a rifle grenade. The clip comprises two spring strips adapted to hold the sight on the fin assembly of the grenade, the diametric positioning of tates Patent 0 F Patented Jan. 24, 1961 the said sight with respect to the longitudinal axis of the grenade being determined by the stop 6 bearing on the outer edge of the supporting fin, disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the horizon.

During transportation and storage the sighting device can be housed in the tail 5 of the grenade, which is closed by a plug 7 provided with the propulsive cartridge 8 (Figure 1).

On firing, the rifieman has to remove the plug 7 in order to place the grenade on the throwing sleeve, then removes the sighting device from its housing, in which it is perfectly protected, the sighting device corresponding exactly to the type of grenade he is preparing to launch. Any risk of error is therefore eliminated.

Due to the spring clip on the sighting device, the latter is thrown ofi from the projectile after the shot has been fired, under the combined effects of the positive acceleration and of the air resistance, and drops a few feet away from the rifleman.

It is obvious that the method of fixing the sight on the grenade has been illustrated solely by way of example. If the fin assembly contains an annular part enclosing the fins, the sighting device can be fastened there in the same manner as on a radial fin.

The invention is applicable to grenades fired by means of any firearm whatsoever, such as a pistol, and so on.

What I claim is:

1. A sighting device for a rifle grenade and the like having a recessed tail and fin assembly, comprising a sighting member having length and diameter less than the recess of the grenade tail in which it is stored, said member having means for temporarily securing the said sight member to one of the fins of the grenade fin assembly before launching and capable of separation from the said sight member from the grenade after the shot has been fired.

2. A sighting device for a rifle grenade and the like having a recessed tail and fin assembly, comprising a sighting member having length and diameter less than the recess of the grenade tail in which it is stored and a clip integral with the front face of the said sight member, for temporary attachment to the fin assembly and separable from the grenade after the shot has been fired.

3. A sighting device for rifle grenade and the like having a recessed tail and fin assembly, comprising a sighting member having length and diameter less than the recess of the grenade tail in which it is stored, a clip integral with the front face of the said sight member, said clip being adapted to secure the said sight member on to the rear part of one of the said fins before launching and of separation from said sight member from the grenade after the shot has been fired, and a stop member determining the diametric position of said sight member in relation to the longitudinal axis of the grenade.

4. A sighting device as defined in claim 3, in which the said sight member is made of a transparent synthetic plastic material.

5. A sighting device for a rifle grenade and the like having a recessed tail comprising a sighting member having length and diameter less than the recess of the grenade tail in which it is stored, said member having means for temporary attachment on the rear of the grenade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brandt Apr. 16, 1957 Y FOREIGN PATENTS f" ,537,135 k Belgium Apr. 30, 1955 

